What Exactly Is the Preferred Options Report?
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Issue no.3 Special Edition September 2009 Welcome to a special edition of the Sedgemoor Local Development Framework Newsletter. This edition sets out a brief summary of the Core Strategy Preferred Options Report, including details of the Preferred Spatial Strategy, and gives you the opportunity to have your Say. Why is Planning important? It’s important because planning affects many aspects of our lives – from where we live to where we work, from where and how we shop to where and how we spend our leisure time. Good planning is PREFERRED OPTIONS REPORT PUBLISHED! The Council has central to improving our quality of life and th the social, economic and environmental today (30 September) published the Preferred Options Report. You can access the report via the LDF homepage www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/ldf or sustainability of our District. alternatively, reference copies are available for you to review at your Why does it matter to me? local library. We want the new Framework to meet the needs and aspirations of all people who live and work in Sedgemoor, or may do CONSULTATION BEGINS The publication of the Preferred Options so in the future. Although the LDF talks of report today launches a formal eight-week Public Consultation on the ‘policies’ and ‘strategies’ regarding the document, during which we are inviting you to tell us what you think number of houses and jobs we need to accommodate, it is really about people. about some or all of the options we are proposing to take forward into It’s about how we want to live in the the Core Strategy. You will be able to comment on the report throughout future and the quality of life we, and our the consultation period via a range of options, including our newly children and grandchildren, will enjoy launched Online Consultation Portal, and you can also talk to us face-to- here. face at one of our numerous exhibition and drop-in events. See back page for more details. Haven’t you asked us all this before? The short answer is NO. We have been What exactly is the Preferred Options Report? consulting on the Core Strategy since the end of 2006, but we have moved on a The Preferred Options Report is a major step towards producing a Core great deal since then. Strategy, which is the most important document in the Local Development Framework, as it provides the overall Vision for the District and then Previously, we have consulted with you establishes the Objectives that a planning strategy must work towards if on the Issues & Options report, where we this Vision is to materialise. asked you to comment on a range of planning issues facing Sedgemoor and The Core Strategy Preferred Options Report carries forward and builds on the best options for dealing with them. the Issues & Options consultation we carried out in 2007, which identified Since then, we have been busy carrying the main strategic spatial planning issues facing Sedgemoor and out a lot of additional work, particularly on suggested options for addressing those issues. The Preferred Options the evidence needed to underpin the Report sets out details of the options that we are intending to take forward Core Strategy and on assessing the to the final Core Strategy document, and the Public Consultation on the various options with regard to their document provides the opportunity for anyone to say whether they agree sustainability. Based on all the with these options and, if they wish, to submit alternative options for knowledge gained from those previous consideration. steps, we have selected what we believe to be the best options for future The most important of all the Options is the Preferred Spatial Strategy, development, and we are now asking you because it says what should happen where in Sedgemoor, and most of the to tell us what you think about the options more detailed options in the report build upon it. Our Preferred Spatial we have chosen. Strategy is summed up inside this Newsletter for you to consider. Your comments on the Preferred Options If you would like to comment on the Spatial Strategy electronically you can document (see opposite) will inform the do so via the link above. If you’d prefer to comment on this Option on draft Core Strategy which we hope to be paper, please fill in the questionnaire accompanying printed issues of this consulting on next year. Newsletter. A Spatial Strategy for Sedgemoor The Spatial Strategy of the new Framework will define what role the Towns, Key Rural Settlements, Villages and Countryside will play in building a more sustainable Sedgemoor. The roles set out in this strategy will largely determine the strategic aims for each place, the amount and distribution of new housing and employment development, the part to be played by the town centres and the provisions for sustaining the rural economy. The diagram below outlines the Council’s preferred Spatial Strategy of delivering sustainable new homes and creating a thriving economy whilst protecting and improving existing environmental, social and economic assets over the next 20 years. Bridgwater Burnham-on-Sea & Highbridge Main focus for housing growth providing 7,700 new Focus for locally significant homes on Brownfield land housing and employment and at an urban extension in growth that contributes to North East Bridgwater and regeneration objectives and other well related Greenfield should provide about 1,300 locations new homes and at least 1,000 new jobs Main focus for employment growth providing 6,000 new Growth will be located within jobs existing urban area, maximising Brownfield Transformational town wide opportunities regeneration strategy Potential extension and Town centre will be the focus enhancement of existing for new retail growth, other employment areas complimentary shopping functions, leisure uses and Burnham town centre will be office development focus for locally significant retail and tourism growth Cheddar Highbridge town centre will Focus for local housing and focus on the needs of its local employment growth within community existing settlement providing about 200 new homes Maximising Brownfield Key Rural Settlements (KRS) and the Countryside opportunities The KRS will be the focus for limited housing growth through infill and redevelopment opportunities and should collectively provide about 550 new Potential extension and homes. Within the KRS, appropriate small-scale employment growth that will create or retain local jobs to reduce the need to travel, diversify the rural economy and promote sustainable communities will be encouraged. enhancement of existing employment areas to provide Elsewhere in rural areas options seek to support the rural economy, retain local service provision and promote much needed affordable housing, about 200 new jobs particularly in those settlements with a range of services. Appropriate affordable The wider countryside options positively seek to enhance and protect the environment whilst supporting the specific needs of the activities that require a countryside location, such as the agricultural industry and recreation. housing schemes for local people How to have your Say! The formal consultation period for the Consultation diary Preferred Options is now underway and will run until 24th November. September 30th Publication of Preferred Options Report and start of consultation How can I see it? October 1st Bridgwater Town Council meeting, 7.30pm The complete document is available from th our website www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/ldf 5 Burnham on Sea and Highbridge Town Council Meeting, 7pm 12th Nether Stowey Village Hall Exhibition and Drop-in, 2.30-6.30pm Reference copies are available in your Nether Stowey Parish Council meeting, 7pm local library, as well as at any of the drop- th in events we are holding in the coming 12 Westonzoyland Community Centre, Exhibition and Drop-in, 2.30-7pm Westonzoyland Parish Council meeting, 7.30pm weeks (see opposite). If you require the 13th Cannington Village Hall, Exhibition and Drop-in, 2.30-6.30pm document on a disc or in any other format, Cannington Parish Council meeting, 7pm please use the contact details below to get th in touch with the LDF team. 13 North Petherton Community Centre, Exhibition and Drop-in, 2.30-7pm North Petherton Town Council Meeting, 7.30pm 19th Axbridge Town Hall, Exhibition and Drop-in, 2.30-7pm How can I make comments? Axbridge Town Council meeting, 7.30pm The easiest way to tell us what you make 21st Wedmore Council Room, Exhibition and Drop-in, 2.30-7pm of our Preferred Options is to add your Wedmore Parish Council meeting 7.30pm rd comments directly into the report via our 23 Burnham, Morrisons foyer, Exhibition and Drop-in, 10-4pm brand new Online Consultation Portal. To 24th Burnham, Morrisons foyer, Exhibition and Drop-in, 10-4pm get there just follow the link from our LDF 27th Cheddar Parish Hall, Exhibition and Drop-in, 2.30-7pm homepage. Alternatively, send us a free Cheddar Parish Council meeting, 7pm hand response by letter or email and send 27th Woolavington Village Hall, Exhibition and Drop-in, 2.30-7pm it to the address below. Woolavington Parish Council meeting, 7.30pm 30th Bridgwater Angel Place, Exhibition and Drop-in, 10-4pm st Who do I ask if I’ve got questions? 31 Bridgwater Angel Place, Exhibition and Drop-in, 10-4pm The exhibitions and drop-in events we are November holding across the District in the coming 6th Highbridge Asda, Exhibition and Drop-in, 10-4pm weeks are an ideal opportunity for you to 7th Highbridge Asda, Exhibition and Drop-in, 10-4pm come along, get more information and 9th Pawlett Village Hall, Exhibition and Drop-in, 2.30-6.30pm TBC have a chat with us. If you can’t make any Pawlett Parish Council meeting 7pm TBC of these, do check the website to see if 10th Puriton St Michael’s Church Hall, Exhibition and Drop-in, 2.30-7pm your questions are answered there, or Puriton Parish Council meeting, 7.45pm contact us on the number or at the 16th Ashcott Village Hall, Exhibition and Drop-in, 2.30-6.30pm TBC address below.